Friday, April 12, 2013 - 8:00 PM
First Presbyterian Church
Harpsichord Extravanganza
Opening night will feature music for 2, 3, 4 and 5 harpsichords
A unique and peculiar spectacle not to be missed. It is rare that we see more than 2 keyboard players perform together on one stage. During this festival Alberta's most prominent keyboard players will rehearse and perform together.
The repertoire will be concertos for multiple harpsichords by Bach. His concertos for 4 and 3 harpsichords and strings will be played with 5 harpsichords (some of of them playing the string orchestra parts!). Most people will rarely see one harpsichord in a concert; this is a unique opportunity to listen to 5!
Marnie Giesbrecht, harpsichord
Joachim Segger, harpsichord
Judy Loewen, harpsichord
Wendy Markosky, harpsichord
Jeremy Spurgeon, harpsichord
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Saturday, April 13, 2013 - 8:00 PM
Holy Trinity Anglican Church
Biber - the complete Rosary Sonatas
Internationally renowned baroque violinist
, baroque violin
Josephine van Lier, viola da gamba
Marnie Giesbrecht, harpsichord, organ
Dustin Malloney, narrator.
Guest artist this festival is baroque violinist Elizabeth Wallfisch who will perform all of the spectacular Rosary sonatas by Biber on Saturday night.
The evening will be quite a "happening"; 16 sonatas will be performed, most of them involve a completely differently tuned violin (Ms Wallfisch will bring several violins to make this task slightly easier). There will be two intermissions during which time wine and hors d'ouvres will be served.
It is unusual to hear one of the Rosary sonatas performed in a concert, let alone all 16 of them, including the spectacular final passacaille for solo violin.
A leading interpreter of music on the baroque and classical violins, Elizabeth Wallfisch is a favourite with both audiences and orchestras because of her virtuosity, generous, sparkling personality and impeccable musicianship.
Her appearances are marked by a daring and spontaneous approach to performance that results in electrifying music-making. Renowned not only as a prominent interpreter of 17th and 18th century violin music, she is also an inspiring leader and director.
Elizabeth Wallfisch has been a guest director/leader on the violin with many of the world's period instrument orchestras, including Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Netherlands Bach Society, Tafelmusik- Canada, Apollo's Fire, Hanover Band, L'Orfeo Barockorchester, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque, Carmel Bach Festival Orchestra, Concerto d'Amsterdam, Brandywine Baroque, Raglan Baroque, Musica Angelica and Pacific Baroque Orchestra. More and more, the world of modern chamber orchestras is demanding an in-depth look at the concepts of style in the playing of the music of the 17th and 18th centuries, leading to many invitations to direct.
Ms. Wallfisch considers it a privilege to direct such fine orchestras as the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Israel Chamber Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, Herford Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Chamber Orchestra, Stuttgarter Kammerorkester, Vasteras Sinfonietta and Australian Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Wallfisch's long and impressive discography offers a window onto her expansive musical world, from the high baroque Italian violinist-composers such as Vivaldi, Corelli, Veracini, Tartini and Geminiani to classical and romantic greats from Mozart to Mendelssohn.
She has explored the music of Paganini and Viotti and recorded much of the music of the great baroque tradition, from the earliest Italian violin music of Cima to Biber, Telemann, Bach and the rich, sensual music of the French baroque.
Always keen to nurture young talent, Ms. Wallfisch has recently formed the Wallfisch Band, a unique international period instrument orchestra in which highly talented younger players, either still studying or on the threshold of their careers, play alongside Elizabeth and her seasoned colleagues – all players at the very top of the profession. The experience is a living master class within an intensive rehearsal and concert environment. The combination of youthful energy and musical experience results in performances of the greatest vigour, intensity and passion. The ensemble made its debut at the 2008 Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music and has performed, and will continue to perform, in the UK, Germany, New Zealand and Australia in the coming seasons. Elizabeth Wallfisch has published a treatise on fundamental aspects of baroque violin playing, The Art of Playing Chin-Off for the Brave and the Curious, published by King's Music.
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Sunday, April 14, 2013 -
8:00 PM
Holy Trinity Anglican Church
Dido and Aeneas by Purcell
The Scona Chamber Singers, a mainstay of Edmonton’s early music scene and Early Music Alberta's "in-house" chamber choir, under the artistic direction of
John Brough and Jolaine Kerley
Feature soloists:
Sarah Schaub (Dido)
Jordan van Biert (Aeneas)
Jolaine Kerley (Belinda).
Our guest artist, Elizabeth Wallfisch will appear again; she will lead a string orchestra consisting of some of Alberta’s finest professional string players on period instruments in a highly anticipated performance.
Instrumentalists include:
Elizabeth Wallfisch, baroque violin
Josephine van Lier, baroque cello and viola da gamba
Judy Loewen, harpsichord
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